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Piano chord

EdimE diminished

  • E1
  • G♭3
  • B♭♭5
Notes
3
Positions
3
Span
6semitones
Fingers
1-3-5

How to play Edim on piano

  1. Find E: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
  2. Right hand: 1 on E, 3 on G, 5 on B♭.
  3. Or with the left hand: 5 on E, 3 on G, 1 on B♭.
  4. Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
  1. Edim on piano, Root position: E G B♭E, G, B♭EGB♭135
    Edim on piano, Root position: E G B♭E, G, B♭EGB♭531

    Root position · E – G – B♭

  2. Edim on piano, 1st inversion: G B♭ EG, B♭, EGEB♭152
    Edim on piano, 1st inversion: G B♭ EG, B♭, EGEB♭513

    1st inversion · G – B♭ – E

  3. Edim on piano, 2nd inversion: B♭ E GB♭, E, GEGB♭351
    Edim on piano, 2nd inversion: B♭ E GB♭, E, GEGB♭215

    2nd inversion · B♭ – E – G

Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.

Edim inversions

Use these 3 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on E; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.

Chords that go with Edim

The other chords of F major, the key where Edim is home (vii°). Songs in this key move between them.

Edim with two hands

A full sound: the left hand plays E an octave lower, the right hand plays E–G–B♭.

Edim with two handsE, E, G, B♭EEGB♭5135

Edim on other instruments

About the Edim chord

To build E diminished, take these 3 notes from the root up: E (1), G (♭3), B♭ (♭5). A diminished triad: two minor thirds stacked, with a flat fifth. Tense and unstable, it leads strongly to the next chord.

The keys are E – G – B♭, counted up from E; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 6 semitones. Any hand that reaches an octave can hold Edim, so it works in either hand.

In the inversions of Edim the root moves up and another note takes the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is G (G–B♭–E). In the 2nd inversion the bass is B♭ (B♭–E–G).

Compared with Edim7, Edim leaves out D♭.

You meet Edim in these keys: F major (vii°), D minor (ii°).

Questions

What notes are in the Edim chord?

Edim (E diminished) has 3 notes: E (1), G (♭3), B♭ (♭5).

How many inversions does Edim have?

Edim can be played in 3 positions: Root position (E–G–B♭); 1st inversion (G–B♭–E); 2nd inversion (B♭–E–G).

What is the difference between Edim and Edim7?

Compared with Edim7, Edim leaves out D♭.

Can I play Edim with one hand?

Yes. In root position Edim spans 6 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.

More E chords